I bought the beautiful medium-size, wood-framed painting several years ago. An old gnarled tree is bending slightly over toward a calmly flowing greenish-tinted river. In the foreground bluebonnets and a scattering of red-tipped Indian Paintbrush flowers are flanked on either side by cactus. In the background a long, tall rocky bank stands, with faint marking like rooms were chiseled out for shelter hundreds of years ago. Tall grasses grace the top of the stretch of the grayish-brown rock wall. Puffy white clouds seem to be moving across the baby-blue skies. And, at the right, stylishly signed: Betty Watson ’80. I will treasure this beautiful landscape forever.

Betty passed April 3, 2021 in the evening at er home. She was 94 years young.

The Thursday before that, my daughter, Scarlette, our friend Dean Welch, and I visited her. We were glad to see her, and we prayed over her, and ended with Dean softly singing a song about a rose. Betty looked sweet and peaceful.

Betty and I were Pink Lady partners at the Seminole hospital gift shop for 3 to 4 years. I never knew someone as witty and funny as she. I learned later that she had battled cancer several times and was beginning to be lightly affected by Parkinson disease. Most people with her condition would find it hard to stay as cheerful and keep their sense of humor. I picked her up for work for about her last year there, and it never failed for her so say we might as well call it a day already since it took her so long to put on “face,” wig, etc. etc., etc., etc., etc.

In those years, I drove her to many doctor appointments in Seminole, Shawnee, but mostly to Oklahoma City. On the way home, she always wanted to shop at the Good Will store in Shawnee. This took some time, but she’d always find several nice pieces. Then we’d stop at a Sonic for a burger and coke.

If she weren’t feeling well, and I visited her to lift her spirits, it was my spirits lifted when I left. She had every reason to complain about her ailments but chose to joke about it instead.

At the hospital she shared many stories about growing up in Wewoka, being raised by her grandmother. Right after high school, she married H.L. Watson and they moved to Seminole where she’d lived in the same house for over 50 years.

She traveled extensively in her years, going to Las Vegas the most to see one of her 2 sons. She attended may Vegas shows, meeting several celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, but her “hero” was Tom Selleck.

Betty’s granddaughter, Dawn, lived in Colorado Springs, a few years ago when my son, Clay, lived there. So, twice when my husband and I traveled to see Clay, we took Betty along so she could stay with Dawn. Needless to say, the 10-hour trip was hilarious with her humorous chatter. We loved it!

The only place I heard her say she flew out of the country was to Venezuela. She said she was nervous the whole trip. Her husband was working for an oil company there. After Betty gave up driving, she missed keeping up with what was going on in the community, so one day I took her out to see the new high school, then on to the old Fry’s Lake where we almost got stuck because of recent rains damaging the road. She remembered going out there in the 60s. Then I took her on to St. Crispin’s where she couldn’t believe the growth of that camp, which used to be Danielson’s Lake where she used to swim many, many years ago. She would tire easily, so we ended the drive by going to Sonic for a coke before I took her home.

She was a seamstress and saved up her money to go on cruises and on long road trips with local friends. A crafty and creative woman, she’d make elaborate gifts for each holiday and send them to friends and relatives. She made, as well as did alterations for ball gowns, wedding gowns, and about any kind of clothing. She was still doing alterations up until the last 6 months.

Betty loved to decorate her home each holiday. She collected Santa Clauses and manger scenes, especially. Even though she had more than she could display, she’d still be on the lookout for them at garage sales.

Betty was also a professional painter. She sold many of her paintings of oil fields scenes. She also painted flowers and landscapes, etc.

We’d discuss our spiritual life. She occasionally asked me why God was still keeping her on this earth. Not being able to drive, or cook, or clean house, or sew, or barely walk, she felt useless. And ,besides, all of her friends had already passed. I assured her there was a reason, and it might be she still had a witty sense of humor that people needed and just being around her would make their day. She had faithfully gone to the Seminole Baptist Church since the 50s but as her hearing weakened, she quit about 2 years ago.

Betty left a legacy of keeping a good attitude with a touch of humor. I loved her very much.